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Palm Sunday Rally for Refugees

It has been one of the most memorable Palm Sundays for me, personally. In thanks to God for the many graces of today, I wish to recollect very briefly on the events of today.

Palms at the rally.

After Mass, we headed into the city for an intimate, passionate and beautiful prayer service, lead by Bishop Vincent Long, himself a former refugee to Australia.

It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces from all parts of “Catholic Melbourne”, from seminarians, to school staff, priests, sisters, families and the like.

Interior of St Patrick's Cathedral, East Melbourne

The FCJ Sisters were well-represented, with Srs Catherine Flynn, Margaret Claver Hayes, Maureen Merlo, Denise Mulcahey and Mary O’Shannessey walking with the large gathering of peaceful protesters down the streets of the Melbourne CBD.

Our banner.

Some highlights included a group of women who called out in support for the FCJs on seeing our sign, meeting and greeting with other members of the faith we wouldn’t normally otherwise meet, as well as the joyful sounds of music, singing for justice.

Thank you to each one who attended the rally, prayed with us and kept in their hearts, solidarity with those suffering, detained and inhumanely treated.

We continue to pray and work to influence the hearts of those in government and policy-making by our actions and example, as well as all those who do not stand with us. No human being is illegal.

It’s heartening to get this good news of the rally, Geralyn. I’m appalled at the sheer cruelty of the major parties, who so conveniently have forgotten that their end (‘stop the boats’) does not justify the immoral means of inflicting maximum horror as the ultimate deterrent. Of course stopping the boats is morally (humanly) questionable anyway.